As much as I love Christmas, I always keep it pretty simple. My goal is always to do as little as possible, while still keeping the ambience festive and joyful in our home. It’s easy to be a scrooge and not want to enjoy the beauty of the season because of all the work we take upon ourselves, but it’s also easy to become distracted by the glitter and shiny things and lose sight of our focus on Jesus, God’s gift to us and the reason we celebrate.

You might think as a home decor blogger I’d be in my element this time of year, bringing out all the decorations, setting up Pinterest-worthy vignettes, snapping all the photos and hosting all the Christmas parties. I do LOVE decorating and taking care of my home, it’s a blessing to create a warm home for my family and invite others in to connect and build friendships. I’m grateful every day for that gift. But when it comes to Christmas decor, too much holiday decor is actually overwhelming to me. I’m much happier with a few sprigs of greenery and lots of candles.

Our tree is one of the few places we put actual Christmas ornaments. We love the tradition of family memories – cutting down a tree and filling it with favorite ornaments. But no matter how carefully we choose our favorites, or how perfectly we hang them on the tree, or how lovely it looks in the photos, invariably our two dogs go crazy within days of my virtual Christmas House Tour and start destroying the decor! EVERY.SINGLE.YEAR.

Right before our eyes, before Christmas morning even arrives, our beautiful tree starts to unravel.

You’d think I would know better by now than to trust a crazy pup in the presence of a decorated tree. Our first year with Jack he decided the Christmas tree was put inside for use as his own personal indoor plumbing; we watched him walk over to it and mark his territory. I’m not even kidding. The next year he completely tore all the ribbon and ran off with a starfish ornament in his mouth. Last year when our new pup Lily joined our family, they were double the trouble and chomped up several beautiful ornaments.

But this year I was certain they were more mature and trustworthy. As far as I could tell, they didn’t even notice all the adorable forest and sea-themed ornaments our family carefully hung on the tree the week before. So ironically on the morning I posted part two of my virtual Christmas tour on The Inspired Room, it happened. I left both of the dogs peacefully napping in our family room and went in to my office down the hall. Pretty soon my daughter and I heard a strange rustling coming from the family room. I ran to see what the commotion was and immediately called my daughter in to bring the camera and capture what I had just witnessed.

Before we could rescue it from the clutches of doom, an adorable felt deer ornament had been sacrificed by the furry paws and open jaws of two mischievous pups. The deer’s green felt body, stick antlers, and inner parts were scattered around the room, telltale little bits and pieces of his former self clinging to the dogs’ fur and lips. It was a sad sight.

It is a little silly, but as we stopped for a few moments of silence over the loss of that innocent little deer, we were so grateful for a symbolic reminder.

It is in the unraveling of this world that we are reminded where our true gift is found.

While we are blessed with beautiful things that bring us joy this season, the reality is all the beautiful things of this world are only temporary. Every single thing will unravel in time. There is only one hope for a rescue. By the gracious mercy of God, we are blessed by the one gift that will not be torn away from us, should we choose to receive it. Born on that Christmas morning in a humble manger, God’s precious Son was born to offer us the hope and joy of eternal life.

So even as all the sparkling glitter and wonder of Christmas lights up our homes over the next two weeks, will you join me in slowing down in humble gratitude and awe as we remember where our true gift is found?

Melissa Michaels

Melissa Michaels is the NY Times Bestselling author of Love The Home You Have and The Inspired Room book. Her blog, The Inspired Room, was voted Better Homes & Gardens Readers' Favorite decorating blog in 2014 and 2015. Melissa is a church planter's wife and a mom to three human kids and...
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Melissa,
Oh how I love the “guilty” look on your one pup’s face…the eyes say it all…busted!! Several of our ornaments have gone the “way of the dogs” over the years. Some mistaken as treats for dogs – like the paper wreath with colored macaroni noodles as ornaments on it (preschool craft). Others as inviting chew toys like the pine cone squirrel lol. But, you are so right to point out that it’s because of the continual unraveling that we NEED saving…we NEED a Savior. Whether the carnage is below the Christmas tree or in the world and relationships around us…we need saving. A home simply decorated and an expectant heart are the best preparations we can make this Advent season. Your post brought wisdom and out loud chuckles…
Advent blessings,
Bev xx

We used to have a cute bird nest tucked in the tree with a mother bird and three little baby birds. Every time we left the house and came back, our cat would have knocked it out of the tree and scattered all the birds across the living room floor. We no longer put that nest with birds in the Christmas tree!

Seems like almost every day I find myself reminding someone who is experience some serious unraveling in their life circumstances this same message you wrote about today. Only God is our true hope who can rescue us, and they are not just beautiful words, but a beautiful unfailing truth!

A defining moment for me. Christmas is always a mixed bag of emotions because my dad was diagnosed with cancer one Christmas Day and died the next year the morning of New Year’s Eve. (Mom always chuckled that Daddy “took care of business ” so she wouldn’t have to file taxes on him for the next year!) We were blessed in that last year, because we really weren’t sure how long he would live after his diagnosis, and I was pregnant with my youngest daughter.
My mom and I both are ornament collectors, and our trees are full of memories. She has no furry critters to disturb hers, but I live in a household full of human and animal children. Three cats and one confused Shih Tzu/poodle mix who sometimes thinks he’s a cat! My poor tree skirt, made so lovingly by my mother in law, is constantly rumpled from the games of tag. So far no tree climbers–we have an artificial tree due to allergies and an aversion to bugs that hitch a ride. But the evergreen reminds me of the life we have because of Christ’s sacrifice–both in leaving his heavenly realm to live in human form and his sacrifice on the cross. And no matter what other ornaments are hung, there is one that is very special and hangs on the innermost branches as a reminder of that sacrifice. Several years ago I found a replica of the spikes used to nail Jesus to that cross. Not just a little thing, either–it is a heavy metal and almost overwhelming to think of how it was used.
Thank you for sharing your pictures , both the perfect and not so perfect. (Awwww! Busted!) May you and yours have a blessed Christmas season.

Melissa, and it is only in the unraveling where we find our whole. His Name is Jesus and was born on Christmas Day! Enjoyed this post with the doggies! I am a subscriber of yours and love following your new home and at the present, the KITCHEN!!! xo

I soooo needed this. I absolutely love Christmas and I too try not to overdo it with decorating and events. However, this year my husband is just not in the Christmas spirit whatsoever, so we don’t even have a tree. In the past, he has always helped buy the gifts and even wrap them, but this year he has no interest. It’s difficult to understand why. We’ve had tough years in the past that included financial issues, addiction, the death of his brother, and my battle with breast cancer. But this year was a good year! Also, I come from a family where Christmas was special and celebrated in small and grand ways. Needless to say, I’m dying inside!

I am trying to make it as enjoyable for him as possible without forcing too much on him (making a baked treat and just leaving it on the counter for him to enjoy without saying a word to him, connecting with family on get-together times so he doesn’t have to, etc.).

This read was a great reminder that although Christmas doesn’t look the same for us this year, I can still celebrate it in my heart and prepare for the coming Christ-child. Thank you and Merry Christmas!

Often times the holidays can be tough with death, illnesses, etc. If we would just stop-stop doing Christmas the world’s way and remember it is Christ’s birthday. The day He left the splendor of Heaven to come to this broken world. We need to receive the real gift of Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes. I am reminded of a song by Matthew West “The Day After Christmas”. It talks about the light of the world still being here.

“Day After Christmas”
Here comes the letdown Christmas is over
Here comes the meltdown, there goes the cheer
But before we have a breakdown, let us remember
The light of the world is still here
Happy day after Christmas
And merry rest of the year
Even when Christmas is over
The light of the world is still here
The light of the world
Come January I’m ready for summer
The Super Bowl’s over and I’ll settle for spring
Sometimes we all need a change in the weather
But it won’t change the reason we sing
Happy day after Christmas
And merry rest of the year
Even when Christmas is over
The light of the world is still here
The light of the world
The light of the world
The light of the world
So take down the stockings, take back the sweaters
Take down the lights and the star and the tree
But don’t let this world take your joy after Christmas
Take joy to the world and just sing
Happy day after Christmas
And merry rest of the year
Even when Christmas is over
The light of the world is still here
[x2]
The light of the world [x7]

Thank you for such inspiration and encouragement. Although this Christmas is tough as I am receiving Radiotherapy for Cancer every day and all seems to be unravelling, I have Hope. God’s grace and mercy are sufficient for each new day. I will rejoice and celebrate the birth of Jesus, My Lord and Saviour. Amen x